Asked to explain the philosophy behind Paul Lauren Design Consultants, principal Lauren Rautbord answers by explaining her hands-on process: “The day I am delegating design decisions to others or hurriedly making selections ‘off the shelf’ will be the day I know we’ve become too large.” A Scottsdale-based interior design firm specializing in all areas of the home, Paul Lauren places emphasis on direct contact between client and design professional.

“Our homes are our personal sanctuaries, and most people care very deeply about how they create their interior space,” says Rautbord. “My first job is to understand what the client really wants and needs out of the experience. My second job is to educate them on the realities and complexities of the marketplace and working with contractors. My third and most important job is to translate that into a customized experience and business relationship that will be fun, fair, rewarding and successful.”

Paul Lauren Design Consultants is a firm known for serene, uncluttered spaces that are sumptuously livable. The idea that your home is a haven—a place where you should feel peaceful and happy—is at the heart of principal designer Lauren Rautbord’s trademark style of luxurious fabrics, neutral palettes, and furnishings full of warmth and personality.

Always sophisticated but never fussy, Lauren’s designs incorporate vintage and contemporary pieces alike. She believes less is always more, and that exterior views—from desert landscapes to urban lakefronts—should be embraced and enjoyed.

Short of moving, it’s virtually impossible to make a small space larger; unless you know all the right design tricks. Lauren Rautbord of Paul Lauren Design Consultants shares her advice on how to transform your tiny dwelling into a grand abode that you’ll love coming home to at the end of the day. Rautbord’s design firm prides itself on making homes feel serene, uncluttered and sophisticated, but never fussy. Now, discover all the secrets to making your small spaces feel bigger.

WHEN DESIGNER LAUREN RAUTBORD SET ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAT LED HER TO A SPRAWLING, THREE-LEVEL COMPLEX IN CHICAGO’S MEATPACKING DISTRICT, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO LAY DOWN ROOTS.

She was looking for somewhere to branch out. Leaving her traditional Lincoln Parkabode and lifestyle behind, Rautbord sought a home that would not only be an edgy alternative to the suburban particularities she was accustomed to, but also a launching pad for her growing interiors business, Paul Lauren Design Consultants. The mixed-use property she decided on was exactly what Rautbord had in mind: unfinished. “It was at the stage of building that I love,” she laughs. “They had already done the framing and most of the interior, but I still had the freedom to do what I wanted. We ended up ripping it apart.”